Once the storm had passed, World Peace moved into the space between Howard and Bryant, much the way we have seen or done in our own arguments between family or friends.

World Peace certainly has known an emotional moment, but this time he spoke quietly, well aware how this moment was fraught with danger.

That same moment, though, held tremendous opportunity for growth if it could be redeemed — the same as all the adversity we encounter in life.

Redemption is what happened for the Lakers on Wednesday night in New Orleans.

Howard aired it out — and let it go.

Bryant took the heat — and let it go.

Everyone learned from it. (And all the players — no coaches — then went Thursday to see the movie "Lincoln" together in Oklahoma City. Bryant and Howard both went, yes.)

Not only did Bryant immediately improve the defense Howard was criticizing on the court and in that late first-quarter timeout, Bryant was the one who made the conciliatory gesture.

Bryant, one who has been known to pride himself in the past on how long he can hold a grudge, has loosened his vise grip on total control — slightly, anyway.

On this night, he sat next to Howard on the bench in the second quarter, and when another timeout came, Bryant helped Howard to his feet. No, Bryant didn't turn around all the way to face Howard — that would be giving in all the way — but Bryant was clearly reaching out by extending that left arm for Howard to grab.

After the Lakers overcame their first-quarter deficit and rode a dominant third quarter from Howard to the victory, World Peace sat in the locker room and in a low voice summed up what happened with Bryant and Howard:

"Everybody's got flaws."

"Dwight misses free throws. Sometimes Kobe shoots too much. I do things," World Peace continued. "The key is to stay together. Talk about it and stick together."

Team defense is so much of a team's backbone. When the Lakers were losing their hold on the NBA championship, Andrew Bynum also complained about the inconsistent help defense, using the inflammatory phrase "trust issues" to the media after the Lakers fell behind Dallas, 2-0, in the 2011 playoffs.

Howard and Lakers coach Mike D'Antoni are hoping Howard's far superior defensive range compared to Bynum and the different roster makeup are factors in this.

"That's one thing we all have to learn: I'm going to go block shots," Howard said. "I'm going to do plays that most guys don't want to do. That's who I am. I tell guys all the time: 'Hey, if I go help, you gotta make sure you get mine.'

"We did a better job of that in the second half (Wednesday night). It has to continue for us to be successful, but we're going to get it. It takes time, and sometimes we're going to get frustrated, because we all want to win — bad. But we don't take anything personal. We know our mission, and our goal is to win a championship."

As Bryant often will mention, no one but Howard has been the NBA defensive player of the year three consecutive times. The guy knows his stuff, and if there's one thing he can speak on it's this topic.

Bryant blew coverage the night before, just gave an almost imperceptible shrug and moved on to offense. Now this was Howard's enough-already moment.

It was a pure, true moment — no worry about following in Shaquille O'Neal's footsteps by squabbling with Kobe, or who has how many rings, or all the free throws recently missed.

Just right and wrong, making the team better.

Bryant always has been headstrong, and throughout his career he has tested limits with many around him scared to be road kill in the path of his will. Along that way, Bryant has had the benefits of Derek Fisher's timely support to balance him and Phil Jackson's ultimate authority to guide him to championships.

It's different now, which makes it more dangerous for the Lakers. It also means an opportunity for new voices and new brothers.

If all goes right, these Lakers too will learn that Bryant might not say he's sorry but will respect a righteous stand — and amend his behavior for the greater good.

Howard fundamentally has a lot to learn from Bryant about winning, for sure.

But everybody has flaws, it's true — and any true friends, good family or great team will help one another fill the voids.

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